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So 40 years and a day after Reggie Jackson sunk the Dodgers with 3 homers, Enrique Hernandez picked the Dodgers on his back with 3 homers of his own.

The Dodgers are World Series bound and it wasn’t even close tonight. The player known as Kiki etched his name into Dodger lore and Clayton Kershaw is now 4 team wins away from erasing any doubt of his Cooperstown legacy.

Meanwhile the Cubs… well, they showed just how hard it is to repear.

So who owned October?

Each winning team for every post season game gets a pitcher and a hitter who earn a full WOO (Who Owns October.)

And at my discretion, I award a 1/2 WOO’S to a worthy player on the losing team.

At the end of the post season, we will see who had the highest WOO total as a pitcher and a hitter.

The Dodgers may have overpaid to hold on to Brett Anderson with the Qualifying Offer, however lucked out with Howie Kendrick rejected the QO in November, only to sign for just $4.2 MIL for a 2nd year. The club was able to ink the 31-year-old to a 2 YR/$20 MIL – where the Qualifying Offer would have paid him $15.8 MIL for just 2016. That is luck for the Los Angeles franchise.

The Dodgers are running pretty good today with the status quo on the offensive side of the ball anyway.

Since it was agreed on that Howie Kendrick would sign a 2 year deal for $20 MIL – this is an economic win.

1st off, the Dodgers avoided the $15.8 MIL Qualifying Offer they extended their 2015 2B, then only had to pad $4.2 MIL to the total for a 2nd season.

This is a loss financially for Kendrick, who must have thought a multi-year offer of 3 – 4 campaigns must have been out there for the same kind of money that Daniel Murphy signed for (3 years at $12 MIL per AAV).

Howie Kendrick was unfortunately in the same market as Daniel Murphy and also lost another club that could have bid for his services, when the New York Mets traded for Neil Walker. Kendrick is a .293 Career Hitter, but doesn’t really have great power for Extra Base Hits. This brought down his value a little. He is till a great professional hitter. I am surprised the Angels didn’t come calling for his services – considering the lower AAV.

Not only did the Dodgers brass finally reel in their Starting Second Baseman, they were able to add Chase Utley as a backup/quality bench hitter for $7 MIL. If you combined Kendrick and Utley salaries, it is just $1.2 MIL over what would have happened had Kendrick accepted the QO.

Love Kendrick as a professional hitter. The man is a .293/.333/.423 career hitter – and his 2015 season closely resembled this at .295/.336/.409 in 2015 for the Dodger Blue.

It shows that the Dodgers management/ownership is also willing to fork out the necessary dollars to keep up their NL West Division prowess.

As the 3 time defending Division Champs, they are in prime position to challenge the Giants for a 4th year in a row in 2016.

This contract vaults the Dodgers up to around $245 MIL in total team salary in 2016, yet it was a necessary move.

Los Angeles is also staring at a 50% penalty for going over the Luxury Tax Threshold for a 4th straight year. They will pay around $28 MIL with cash situated as it is now.

For the fans that wanted the organization to dole up for the bigger Free Agents, it is hard to fathom paying that 50% penalty for years upon years at the present rate.

This approach has had the super management team of Andrew Friedman, Farhan Zaidi, Josh Byrnes and newly appointed Alex Anthopoulos under heavy scrutiny, but may work out better in the long run.

Had the club inked Zack Greinke to his $34.42 MIL AAV, that would have put them so far in committed $ over the Luxury Tax, that they would never be able to get under for a reset.

With the 2016 season concluding without a CBA after, it is also wise not to be so far over the Luxury Tax mark when they don’t know what the new deal between the MLBPA and the owners will look like.

2017 has them over $203 MIL in contracts guaranteed to 12 guys already, but 8 players will become Free Agents after the 2016 season, and after 2017’s end comes the best news for Dodger fans. Andre Ethier and Carl Crawford will finally be off the books!

The Infield is definitely going to be clogged up with Utley, Enrique Hernandez and Alex Guerrero on the depth chart. Guerrero is out of options and will need to be kept on the Major League Roster (or be released, waived or DFA’d).

Of course Justin Turner is listed as the Starter at 3B for now. Micah Johnson and Utley may join Hernandez as guys that could spell him at the hot corner.

Los Angeles has also strengthened its bench with this move. The one thing they could still use it Relief help. That may be obtained by signing more Free Agents, or perhaps this may clear the deck for another trade to happen.

The Dodgers were 10th in the NL during 2015 – with a .250 Batting Average, and losing a .293 hitter last year would have been tough for this years lineup.

With Corey Seager for a full year, and a return to prominence for Yasiel Puig, this squad could really put up some runs and improve all facets of the offense.

While the club wasn’t so great at Batting Average, they were 3rd in the Senior Circuit in Slugging Percentage at .413.

One has to also think that Chase Utley will be a lot better in reserve role – compared to his .202/.291/.363 3 Slash Line with the team last year. I would say he could be 80% like his worst year (prior to 2015), where he hit .259/.344/.425 in 2012.

For the record, baseballreference.com has Utley hitting .247/.315/.398 in 2016. I am sure the club would take that.

Whether the implementation of a lot of players on the roster – as opposed to having a limited bench and depth if they would have signed Greinke projects well to the upcoming season is yet to be determined. 4

Signing Kendrick was the right move all day long. This is one less position with the team having questions for.

The fans are seeing a different management philosophy with the new brass under the tutelage of Andrew Friedman. They are taking a big long term picture look. Even though they wasted $90 MIL in dead money last year with questionable decisions, they are trying to clear the deck for many years in the future, by dropping the heavy amount of committed dollars. With a new CBA forthcoming, who knows what the new Luxury Tax Threshold will be. At least by keeping the new contracts to smaller years and figures, Los Angeles may be able to drop underneath the limit in 2018 – 2020. Right near they are at a 50% penalty for every season they are over the Luxury Tax ($189 MIL) until they get under.

*** The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of mlbreports.com and their other partners.***

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The Dodgers need to start spending money like right now, otherwise they stand to jeopardize themselves winning a 4th straight NL West title in 2016. Both the Giants and D’Backs have signed ace pitchers this year, and added another good Starting Pitcher besides the point. The club does have several young pieces and Depth at Roster to pull off a blockbuster trade forth coming – or they still have enough resources to acquire players for their 2016 run. The clock is officially ticking gentlemen.

The Dodgers have not won or appeared in the World Series since 1988. With the spending the ownership will do in the next decade, I would be surprised if the team doesn’t rake in multiple championships. But it will take diligent finagling on the brass – to skate around the Luxury Tax with the pending CBA of 2017 coming in. Yes the ownership is willing to spend boatloads of money, but they have to be smarter than they were in 2015.

This article deals with sensitive material that will self destruct in a few years. Whether the current regime wants to be saddled with blame or not, or put most of it during the Ned Colletti days, last year’s fiscal budget was a dumpster fire.

Not only did the franchise exceed the Luxury Tax Threshold again at (over $189 MIL), they put it to shame – reeling in a lofty mark of $314 MIL in total Cap Spending.

For folks scoring at home, that is $125 MIL over the limit, and with a third year penalty at 40% now, the squad will take down a historic levy hovering around $50 MIL.

We wrote a blog back in April stating the disregard the brass took in approaching this year’s salary structure. The worst part about it was that it didn’t culminate into a World Series Birth.Read the rest of this entry →

The regular season is over. My daily tally for Who Owns Baseball is at an end. Every day I determine which player had the best individual day on a winning team to earn a full WOB and on a losing team for a 1/2 WOB.

Max Scherzer threw his second no hitter of the season, walking none and striking out 17 Mets along the way for the 2-0 Washington final.

Corey Kluber struck out 9 over 8 shutout innings, allowing 3 hits and 2 walks and earning the 2-0 decision for the Indians over Boston.

Christian Yelich had a terrific double header. In all he went reached base nine times, going 5-5 in one game and 3 for 4 with a walk in the other, combining for 3 runs scored and 2 RBI as the Marlins beat the Phillies twice, 7-6 and 5-2.

Colby Rasmus homered twice and added a single to lead the Astros closer to a playoff spot, 6-2 over the Diamondbacks.

They all owned baseball on October 3, 2015

Earning 1/2 WOBs on losing efforts.

Noah Syndergaard allowed 2 hits and 1 run and 1 walk while striking out 10 Washington batters. But the Mets were no hit, 2-0.

Marco Estrada pitched into the 7th, finishing with 6 2/3 innings, striking out 9 while giving up 3 hits and walking none. He would get a no decision as the Blue Jays lost to Tampa Bay 4-3.

Paul Goldschmidt reached base 3 times and homered in the Diamondbacks 6-2 loss to the Astros.

Josh Hamilton‘s two homers off the Angels (on their dime) was almost the greatest middle finger in recent years. Unfortunately for him, the Angels made a dramatic rally in the 9th inning to put the Division Clinching on hold and beat the Rangers 11-10.

To view the Yearly Leaders for Who Owned Baseball Standings, plus see who gained 1/2 WOB’s – Click the READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY ICON OR SCROLL DOWN.

Chris Sale set the single season strikeout mark for a White Sox pitcher with 274, finishing the game with 7 whiffs in 7 innings, allowing 1 run and 5 hits in the 2-1 final over Detroit.

Carlos Correa kept Houston’s playoff hopes alive by leading a mind boggling offensive attack. He reached base 4 times, including a homer and a stolen base, scoring 4 and driving in 4 as the Astros obliterated the Diamondbacks 21-5.

Jake Arrieta finished his regular season with another shutout performance, striking out 7, allowing just 2 hits over 6 innings and sealing the 6-1 Cubs victory in Milwaukee.

Daniel Castro collected 3 hits including a homer, driving in a pair in the Braves 4-0 blanking of St. Louis.

They all owned baseball on October 2, 2015

Earning 1/2 WOBs on losing efforts.

Martin Perez allowed 1 run over 7 innings but got a no decision as the Rangers fell to the Angels, 2-1.

Brad Miller went 3 for 3 with a homer in the Mariners 4-2 defeat to the A’s.

Manny Machado reached base 4 times, including 2 homers, a pair of stolen bases, 3 runs scored and 3 RBI to help Baltimore win a rain soaked 6-4 game over the Blue Jays.

Jake Odorizzi topped Miami with 7 innings, one unearned run and 7 strikeouts and earned the 4-1 decision for Tampa Bay.

Socrates Brito came off the bench and went 3 for 3, including a triple and a stolen base, scoring twice and driving in a run, scoring in the game winning rally in Diamondbacks come from behind victory, 8-6.

Jerad Eickhoff pitched 7 shutout innings, striking out 10 and 4 hits to lead the Phillies past the Mets, 3-0.

Jason Heyward reached base 4 times, including a grand slam and made some terrific catches in right field in the Cardinals Division Clinching 11-1 laugher over the Pirates. He also added another hit in the opening game of the double header.

Mike Leake threw a complete game 2 hit, no walk shutout to give the Giants a too little too late 5-0 victory over the NL West champion Dodgers.

Ryan Goins reached base 6 times, scoring 3 times and driving in another to led the Blue Jays to a 15-2 blow out of the Orioles and Toronto’s first AL East title since 1993.

Kevin Gausman picked up the Orioles in the second game of the double header with 8 innings, 5 hits and no walks while striking out 10 en route to an 8-1 win over the Blue Jays.

They all owned baseball on September 30, 2015

Earning 1/2 WOBs on losing efforts.

Matt Carpenter doubled and homered, driving in a pair in the Cardinals 8-2 defeat by the Pirates in the opening game of their double header. In the night cap, he reached base 4 times, scoring 3 and doubling.

Chad Bettis allowed 1 earned run and 1 unearned run over 6 solid innings but took the 3-1 Rockies loss to Arizona.

Mike Trout reached base 5 times including a homer and a walk in the 9th that made him the tying run. He would be stranded as the Angels come back came just short, 8-7 to Oakland.

Jose Quintana went 9 innings, allowing 5 hits, 3 runs and striking out 8. He would get a no decision as the White Sox fell to Kansas City in 10 innings, 5-3.

To view the Yearly Leaders for Who Owned Baseball Standings, plus see who gained 1/2 WOB’s – Click the READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY ICON OR SCROLL DOWN.

Marco Estrada pitched into the 8th inning, settling down after some early trouble to finish with 7 1/3 innings, 4 hits, 3 runs and 1 walk. He did not get the decision but helped set up Toronto’s 4-3 win over the Orioles.

Jackie Bradley Jr. reached base 3 times, including a 2 run homer, driving in 3 and stealing a pair of extra base hits away with his defense as the Red Sox topped the Yankees 5-1 and delayed a post season clinching for their rivals for at least a day.

They all owned baseball on September 28, 2015

Earning 1/2 WOBs on losing efforts.

J. A. Happ allowed 1 hit and no walks over 6 shutout innings. He did not get the decision in the Pirates heart breaking 3-0 loss to St. Louis.

Andre Ethier got a pair of hits and drove in the tying run in the 9th inning but the Dodgers fell to San Francisco in the 12th inning, 3-2.

Yordano Ventura was perfect through 5, finishing with 7 shutout frames, allowing 2 hits, 1 walk and striking out 6. He would not get a decision as the Cubs walked off 1-0 winners in the 11th.

Prince Fielder singled, doubled and homered, driving in 4 but the Rangers came up short to Detroit, 7-4.

To view the Yearly Leaders for Who Owned Baseball Standings, plus see who gained 1/2 WOB’s – Click the READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY ICON OR SCROLL DOWN.